Princeton man indicted in second animal cruelty case

TRENTON — A Princeton man already indicted on animal cruelty charges in the death of a German Shepherd mix he was hired to train was indicted for a second time in another animal cruelty case involving his own pets.

Michael G. Rosenberg, 31, of Princeton was indicted by a Trenton grand jury on two-counts of fourth-degree animal cruelty on Tuesday.

In the latest indictment against Rosenberg, authorities allege that he “purposely, knowingly or recklessly, tormented, tortured, or unnecessarily or cruelly beat his own mixed breed dogs Kaiser and Sanford.”

Rosenberg repeatedly picked his dogs up and threw them across the room, slamming them into a concrete floor, according to a signed complaint by Princeton Animal Control Officer Mark Johnson on Jan. 31, 2013.

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Rosenberg could face a maximum penalty of 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine.

The 31-year-old was previously indicted on animal cruelty charges for allegedly whipping and killing a three-year-old German Shepherd mix named Shyanne in August of last year.

According to a criminal complaint signed on Nov. 16, Rosenberg, who was hired as a dog trainer, hit Shyanne with a crop whip, picked up and slammed the female dog on the ground, jabbed his fingers into the dog’s ribs and did not seek medical attention for Shyanne.

According to a February report by The Trentonian, Shyanne suffered four broken ribs, one that punctured a lung, and hyperthermia. Rosenberg faces up to five years in prison and a $15,000 fine in the previous indictment against him.

He is also a registered sex offender, his Megan’s Law listing said he had sex with a juvenile female acquaintance.

He is scheduled to appear in Mercer County Superior Court on June 24 for a status conference, the prosecutor’s office said Wednesday.